MEET THE AUTHORS
Danika Gordon will be a freshman at Sturgis Brown High School in Sturgis, SD, in August 2016. She is involved with volleyball, band, piano, choir and knowledge bowl, and is an active 4-H member who enjoys showing Boer goats, public speaking and photography. Danika is also a leader in her school and community encouraging youth to be kind, respectful and caring. Over the past two years, she has led over twenty presentations at her school, 4-H club, Girls Inc, Boys Club, and local library youth programs championing the six pillars of character: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship, reaching more than 1,000 students with a positive message. Danika's goal is to inspire her peers to realize that "Kids Can..." She says, "Through kindness and caring, I believe kids can make a difference in our world."
Danika authored and illustrated her first book in July 2014 at the age of 12 through software on the free website StoryJumper.com. To date her children’s e-book, titled What Makes You A Super Hero?, which is offered as a free download, has been viewed online by more than 11,500 readers from around the world. The book’s message aims to remind kids that through every day actions of being kind, helpful and thoughtful, they have the powers to be a “super hero.” Danika shares, “It’s always neat to see kids faces light up when they begin to think of themselves as super heroes and they realize that their actions of kindness can truly make a difference.”
For her community service efforts, Danika was named a national semi-finalist for the Peace First Prize in August 2015. She was also recognized in February 2016 as a national honoree in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
Contact Danika at [email protected] or (605)722-7699.
Danika authored and illustrated her first book in July 2014 at the age of 12 through software on the free website StoryJumper.com. To date her children’s e-book, titled What Makes You A Super Hero?, which is offered as a free download, has been viewed online by more than 11,500 readers from around the world. The book’s message aims to remind kids that through every day actions of being kind, helpful and thoughtful, they have the powers to be a “super hero.” Danika shares, “It’s always neat to see kids faces light up when they begin to think of themselves as super heroes and they realize that their actions of kindness can truly make a difference.”
For her community service efforts, Danika was named a national semi-finalist for the Peace First Prize in August 2015. She was also recognized in February 2016 as a national honoree in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
Contact Danika at [email protected] or (605)722-7699.
Joanna Jones is an author, educator, poet, and consultant. She has encouraged children and teachers to write, and has authored and co-authored several books including: Henry’s Adventure at the Franklin Hotel, Circle Boy: Bringing Black Elk’s Storytelling to Life, The Cowboy Story for Kids and Shakespeare and the Crown Jewel: A Story of The Matthews Opera House.
Joanna grew up in Redfield, South Dakota. The Carnegie Library just a half mile from her home was a wonderful place to explore the children’s collection.
In college, Joanna studied to be a teacher and a librarian. Her family life and career took her across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before she returned to the Black Hills of South Dakota. At Arizona State University, Joanna completed her doctorate that documented the value of the teacher-librarian partnership in the educational setting. She has presented on a variety of literary topics at state, regional, and national conferences. Internationally, Joanna has presented in Portugal, Scotland, New Zealand, and China.
Teaching children’s literature, young adult literature, reading methods, and language arts methods at college, allowed Joanna to share authors and illustrators in multiple reading and writing settings. She has also taught in elementary school and middle school as well as teaching in a gifted program. Joanna served on the South Dakota Prairie Pasque, Prairie Bud committee that reviews about 200 books per year to select the yearly state recommended list of books for children.
Joanna Jones loves to read and talk about books. Learn more about her and her available books here.
Joanna grew up in Redfield, South Dakota. The Carnegie Library just a half mile from her home was a wonderful place to explore the children’s collection.
In college, Joanna studied to be a teacher and a librarian. Her family life and career took her across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before she returned to the Black Hills of South Dakota. At Arizona State University, Joanna completed her doctorate that documented the value of the teacher-librarian partnership in the educational setting. She has presented on a variety of literary topics at state, regional, and national conferences. Internationally, Joanna has presented in Portugal, Scotland, New Zealand, and China.
Teaching children’s literature, young adult literature, reading methods, and language arts methods at college, allowed Joanna to share authors and illustrators in multiple reading and writing settings. She has also taught in elementary school and middle school as well as teaching in a gifted program. Joanna served on the South Dakota Prairie Pasque, Prairie Bud committee that reviews about 200 books per year to select the yearly state recommended list of books for children.
Joanna Jones loves to read and talk about books. Learn more about her and her available books here.